We moved faster, phenomenally faster, and more effectively in both cases, half-way accross the world than we can here and now. IF we had the same level of control of NO that we did of Falluja after 5days and were only being shot at by the occassional sniper, that would be fine, we'd have the place basically secure. But we don't. The thugs rule the streets.
As far as Thailand goes, WE had a base of ops set up and aid in country and being distributed half-way accross the world in five days. But in NO, where the supplies were "strategically" positioned before Katrina hit, we are helpless. There is no excuse. Incompetence on every level.
Your pontifications are wearing mighty thin ...
Horseshit. I haven't seen anything other than anecdotal evidence that "thugs rule the street." Some local officials are using that as I cop out as to why more isn't being done. FEMA isn't reporting that it is hampering their efforts. The Coast Guard hasn't reported it hampering their efforts. Get real. I didn't see any armed thugs stopping anyone from delivering food or water to the folks at the convention center (which they did eventually.)
Need a cookie?
Look, I've already explained to you that you don't have any idea what you are talking about. We lost 71 good Marines in Fallujah. A majority of those men died in the period after the first five days of operations. And the difference between a "base of operations" in Thailand and the massive relief effort you see underway in New Orleans doesn't really bear any comparison. Although you are clearly an expert in incompetence, I'm not sure your personal inadequacies equip you to make sweeping judgments regarding the current effort in NO.